Merle Smith (1944–2021), first Black graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy

William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including “Laredo” and “Rich Man, Poor Man.”Smith often played villains – as his did in the 1976 ABC miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man,” playing the antagonist Anthony Falconetti. But in an earlier starring role, Texas Ranger Joe Riley on the popular TV show “Laredo,” Smith was a good guy known for his strength.

Antonio Ferme editorZaila Avant-garde won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night, becoming the first Black American winner in the competition’s 96-year history.The 14-year-old from Harvey, La., correctly spelled “murraya” — defined as “a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees having pinnate leaves and flowers with imbricated petals” — to clinch victory.“Does this word contain the English word murray, which could be the name of a comedian or just an English name in general?”

Instagram, where she showcases her dazzling skills on both the court and stage.  She hopes to attend Harvard, play in the WNBA and possibly coach one day in the NBA.

Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from Louisiana, has become the first black American student to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Jamie Lang Originally planned to shoot in early 2020, before COVID-19 lockdowns made that an impossibility, producer-turned-director Thomas Torrey’s “All the Names We Buried” is pitching in the Proof of Concept section of the Frontieres Platform at the Cannes Marché du Film, looking to reignite the project’s pre-COVID buzz and recuperate lost financing.

The diamond battle of Chicago will get some network airtime next month. ESPN said today that ABC will televise the August 8 White Sox-Cubs matchup from Wrigley Field — the first time the broadcast net has aired its Disney sibling’s Sunday Night Baseball game of the week.

Terry Donahue was the head football coach at UCLA from 1976 to 1996, with more wins than any other coach in the team’s history.Donahue played for the UCLA Bruins when he was in college in the 1960s, and he was on the 1965 team that made the school’s first Rose Bowl appearance. He began coaching after college, first for the University of Kansas.

Emmerdale fans have been left in shock over Meena Jutla’s first murder victim after new episodes, which are yet to be aired on television, were released to the ITV Hub on Monday. It was revealed last month by the soap’s producer Kate Brooks that Meena, played by Paige Sandhu, would be part of a “gripping” new storyline where a major character would be killed off.

If 20th Century Fox had it their way, “Independence Day” could have looked a lot different.

Angelique Jackson Filmmaker Dee Rees made history on June 29 when her debut feature “Pariah” joined the Criterion Collection, making the Oscar and Emmy nominee the first Black American woman to have her work included.

Brad McClelland is set to share the very first kiss on camera as Love Island 2021 kicks off tonight on ITV2. Viewers will see the newly coupled up contestants take part in a dares challenge, which will include everything from sucking toes to earlobes.

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Love Island's first contestant has reportedly been unveiled as Sharon Gaffka, who is the UK's Miss International beauty queen from 2018. According to The Sun, the 25 year old is set to enter the villa with the other singletons as the show is set to air on 28 June.

Although Royal Ascot is technically about horse racing, for us it’s all about the fashion and this year there’s been a few high society triumphs and some not so brilliant looks.